Hundreds of people in Edinburgh and Leith remembered one of the biggest tragedies to hit their community today, as they held a service and parade to commemorate 100 years since 216 soldiers from the 1/7 (Leith) Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) were killed in the UK’s worst rail disaster at Quintinshill Siding, near Gretna.
One hundred years ago 216 men from the 1st/7th (Leith) Battalion of The Royal Scots lost their lives, and a further 220 were injured, at Quintinshill, just north of Gretna, in what is still Britain’s worst rail disaster. The men were on their way to serve in Gallipoli during World War One.
Two commemorative events will take place to mark the centenary of the Quintinshill rail disaster, the worst railway accident in British history. These commemorations will be particularly significant as they will be attended by descendants of those who died in the disaster.
